ORGANISERS of the Surrey Heath Show, which was expected to have attracted thousands of people, have spoken of their disappointment at having to cancel it at short notice.

The annual event, which helps promote and raise money for local charities, was due to take place last Saturday (May 5) but was cancelled two days before because Frimley Lodge Park, the venue, was waterlogged.

This meant visitors arriving in cars would not have been able to use the fields to park and there was no way for people to use vehicles to bring their stalls onto pitches.

The fire brigade was also due to put on a demonstration but this would have been impossible, organisers said.

The organising committee had been planning the event since September last year. Some of its members went to Frimley Lodge Park on the day to inform a handful of people who turned up having not received the message.

“As you can imagine we are deeply disappointed,” the organisers said in a statement.

“I am sure you appreciate a great deal of time has been spent arranging the event, only to be thwarted by the weather.

"We appreciate your support and trust that we will have another successful year next year.”

The show’s profits were due to be donated to local charities and community organisations, which now look set to miss out.

Tony Moore, chairman of the organising committee, said last year’s event raised around £5,000 for 14 local groups, including Camberley Mencap, KatCanDo, Yours Sanctuary and the Young Carers Project.

He said the organisers had decided it was not practical to try and host the event on another date this year and were focusing on doing it in 2013 at the normal time.

Mr Moore added that the organisers had been expecting between 8,000 and 10,000 people to attend.

This would have been the event’s fifth year. It is the first time it had to be cancelled.

Mr Moore said the first event was nearly cancelled because of rain in the run-up, but the three following years all had good weather.

Other events planned for the show were a classic car exhibition, a football tournament and a performance by Camberley Wind Youth Orchestra.

Heather Hunt, the local fundraising manager for the British Heart Foundation, said around 30 volunteers were due to attend and help with the charity’s big display on the day.

The BHF was planning to play a big part in the event as part of its fundraising and publicity drive since Camberley was made a ‘heart town’ to recognise its link with the charity.

“It was so disappointing to have to ring them to tell them it was off,” she said.

“We were approached by someone on the organising committee several months ago, and local people had told me what a good show it was.

“It’s such a shame the weather has killed it off for so many people. The organisers had been working on this for months.”